Experience of Levothyroxine and Antioxidants Usage in the Treatment of Infertility in Men with Hypothyroidism

V.O. Bondarenko, Zh.S. Spivak

Abstract

The aim of the study was to establish the nature of changes in levels of gonadotrophins, testosterone and semen parameters in infertile men with thyroid gland hypofunction under the influence of Levothyroxine monotherapy and selenium-containing Cefasel and vitamin E together with Levothyroxine.Materials and methods. 84 infertile men with thyroid hypofunction aged 22–44 years old were examined. The patients with primary hypothyroidism were divided into three groups: the first group (12 men), who has hypothyroidism against the background of a significant increase in antibodies to thyroid peroxidase, received cefasel and vitamin E in addition to levothyroxine within three months; the second group (20 persons) received a similar treatment; the third group (17 patients) received levothyroxine monotherapy. Sterile men with subclinical hypothyroidism were divided into two groups: 21 persons were treated with only levothyroxine and 14 patients used combined therapy. Levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating, testosterone, thyrotropic hormone and free thyroxine were investigated and semen parameters were analyzed before and after treatment.Results. After treatment, regardless of its kind, in all groups of patients compensation of thyroid status, growth of testosterone levels without gonadotropin secretion increasing were found. Analysis of the semen after treatment showed that in infertile men both with primary and subclinical hypothyroidism the frequency of normalization is significantly higher in combined therapy using.Conclusions. Our studies show that thyroid status compensation in infertile men with hypofunction of the thyroid gland is a main factor that contributes the increasing of testosterone secretion. To improve the fertilization ability of sperm and to normalize the spermatogenesis in this group of patients it is appropriate to use antioxidant therapy, which consists of cefasel and vitamin E in addition to levothyroxine.